Chapter 1048: 16.94 First Red Star - Illusionary Forest (I)
Chapter 1048: 16.94 First Red Star - Illusionary Forest (I)
Their domain had already been nearly conquered, unbeknownst to the protagonists of their world. The only reason their world still exists is due to the kindness of outsider gods like Fenrir Skoll and Cassius Ambrosia, who protected the last land of the living while also refusing to make any further moves because this is a world with no connection to them after all.
Gods are territorial beings. They would not intervene to save the domain of another God unless the former is a close friend or loved one. Because of their overwhelming power and authority, Gods and Goddesses are rarely sympathetic to others and regard mortals as no more than insects.
This is particularly true for an Evil God such as the God of Void. He used to destroy worlds and the only ones he now repairs are the ones his wife destroys while playing. The remainder would be saved or ignored depending on his mood.
Hei Anjing, the God of Destruction, can only destroy the world, so when he destroys one, he has no idea how to restore it. He accidentally destroyed countless worlds while working as an Executioner for the God System, forcing his Uncle and Shen Siwang to work their disciples to death just to repair it. Because of these occurrences, Hei Anjing's name became synonymous with the word destruction.
Fenrir Skoll and Cassius Ambrosia live together in the mansion but have no intimate interaction other than holding each other's hands, hugging, and sleeping together. Kisses on the forehead are also uncommon because Cassius Ambrosia lived in the modern world with little skinship with others. He also had a slight aversion to skinship, and he felt awkward around Fenrir Skoll at times.
The Lord God understood his situation and did not force any more intimacy than his wife could bear. Instead, he stayed by his side 24 hours a day, seven days a week, serving and spoiling him as before. Even though Cassius Ambrosia is only a soul fragment of his wife's entire soul, he has never treated him differently than Hei Anjing has all these years. Finding him in all worlds, unconditionally loving him despite... He would occasionally hurt him.
This is the part of his life he despises the most. While preparing some baked snacks in the kitchen Zhi Yue suddenly appeared and saluted respectfully to his lord. Fenrir Skoll didn't even turn around upon the latter's arrival.
"What do you need? This Deity is busy."
"Master! Yue doesn't want to turn a blind eye. I'm sure A'Yang had already noticed it as well. Something weird is mixing with your aura." Zhi Yue said as he noticed the dark elements around his master which used to not have any shape had turned into dragons coiling around him.
This aura gives off a completely different vibe than just darkness or the void itself. It is also capable of devouring anything. It gives those who look at it an eerie feeling as if it has sucked away their souls, even for an artificially created existence like Zhi Yue.
Fenrir Skoll cast a quick glance at Zhi Yue before returning his attention to the freshly baked macaroons in the oven. He made sure to keep that strange aura around him at bay, and it vanished as if it had never existed. Zhi Yue, on the other hand, kept his distance from his loved one because he felt that thing wanted to eat him no... I was hungry for everything.
Fortunately, it was under his Lord's command.
Zhi Yue panicked, "M-Master? T-That thing...! That tried to eat me just now."
"I can make it spit you out even if it eats you. If you don't want to get eaten don't stare at it for too long making it notice your presence." Fenrir Skoll said. "It's under my control. Do not ask further. Go back."
"Y-Yes, Master." Zhi Yue said as he walked away from the kitchen.
Before walking out the door, he looked worriedly at his master, a frown on his face. That aura is right now. If he's not mistaken, that thing is alive; it wasn't just a simple aura, but a living aura devoid of intelligence, similar to world qi, but for some reason, it listens to his master.
Fenrir Skoll's eyes turned a deeper red, unbeknownst to him. The darker his eyes become, the angrier he becomes. A wriggling small black dragon shrieked in pain within his grasp. This aura enraged him for allowing Zhi Yue to notice their presence.
The God of Void whispered coldly, "Brainless things! Which of the word 'Hide' did you fulfill!? Useless!"
Shaaaa~
He destroyed the devouring power that manifested. It simply lost its ability to manifest itself in visible form, but this power remains. Then he resumed what he was doing in the kitchen as if nothing had happened.
---
Primitive World, the next day...
When morning came, all trial participants had gathered in front of the Illusionary Forest. Great Elder Tuya and Keylan Light, as expected, await them at the gates. Outside the gates, one can see the rainbow-colored mist inside the forest, but the trees and paths are barely visible. However, there is a light-like pillar in the center of the Illusionary Forest which was their goal and designation.
When Great Elder Tuya saw that all of the participants who had passed the second stage of the trial had gathered, he began issuing warnings and instructions for the final stage of the trial.
Great Elder Tuya says, "Since everyone is already here we shall begin the final stage of the trial. In front of you is the Illusionary Forest, upon entering this forest together as a couple you will be able to see everything that one has experienced in life. This includes your thoughts and feelings for one another. Everything would be revealed and nothing would be hidden. It will be based on whether you are willing to accept each other."
"We also know that not all of you will be able to accept what you see. I prepared a temporary imprint here. This will bring you outside as long as you decide not to continue the trial anymore and everything you have seen inside will be erased. All you would remember is your choice to fail the trial and go home without any more partners as you didn't accept each other in the end." Keylan Light drew a few imprints of the teleportation circle and pasted them on the bodies of the participants. "This imprint can be activated by thoughts and we who were watching over the forest would also activate it if we deemed that you failed that trial. Keep this in mind."
"The goal in this final stage is the Flower Garden at the center of the Illusionary Forest. Just bring back one of the flowers from that place and come out. Only the. You would be considered passed for this trial and the preparation for the Mateship Ceremony will be prepared by the whole city." Great Elder Tuya said as he controlled the gates to the forest to be opened. "Go inside once you are prepared. Let me warn you. You will be separated inside and must find each other first before heading to the center of the forest together. I wish you all luck!"
There were a few couples who were hesitant. After all, no mortal is without a secret. This trial will now expose everything in their lives to another person. Even Asher Light and the rest of the group were quiet; this Illusionary Forest is a strange place, and no one wanted to be the first to explore it.
Seeing them like this, Shen Siwang and Mo Baojun, who were acting as bystanders, didn't want to waste time.
Mo Baojun, whose face was hidden under a veiled hat, said to his husband, "Hubby, let's go. The sooner we finish the faster we can go home. I don't know if something happened at home while we were not around."
"Okay, Wifey!" Shen Siwang wraps his hand around his wife's waist and escorts him inside the Illusionary Forest under everyone's eyes. They had never seen a couple this brave in years.
Asher Light and the others, on the other hand, were staring at each other. The words spoken by that couple reminded them of their surroundings. Kenan Light's ambition will not be stifled simply because we are not present. They must complete this trial as soon as possible so that they can return to their world and defeat the devil. The connection between their souls would allow the couple to share their qi, allowing them to feel their partners' states and include their thoughts. These skills were useful enough during the war.
Esther Dawn said, "Let's go inside. We cannot waste any more time."
"If we get separated, stay calm on your own. Find each other and we will meet at the Flower Garden at the Center of the Forest." Mayonaka Yoru said.
"Please be careful!"
"Until we meet again!"
They only entered the Illusionary Forest as a group after that. With them taking the lead, the other couples decided to enter the Forest and complete the trial. As expected, the rainbow mist gradually fades and opens a path as soon as one enters the Illusionary Forest. This path is similar to a row of mirrors, with each mirror displaying a memory of their partners that they must view before they can see each other.
Shen Siwang and Mo Baojun saw this scenery first because they were the first to enter. They did not split up like the other couple. The Illusions in this forest had no effect on them because they were Gods, but a portion of their memories were being read and displayed on the surface of the mirror.
*The first time they met.
[Shen Siwang was the sole observer of the world as the Ruler of Vearth. There is no God System or Nether System at this time. Vearth is a simple world that only Gods can enter and inhabit. The Mo Family appeared in Vearth, and even Shen Siwang was perplexed as to where they came from. He was looking out the window, only to notice something interesting in this world.]
[A massive Saint Bernard-like dog beast was walking with a sleeping young man on its back. Shen Siwang couldn't stop laughing at this sight. The young man was obviously there to walk the dog, but this sight changes everything. The scene abruptly changes when some evil Gods attempt to kidnap the sleeping young man, but the dog refuses to give up its master and bares its fangs to these uninvited guests.]
[Shen Siwang had predicted that the young man would be terrified when he saw the scene.
When the sleeping young man awoke, an unusual situation occurred. A glint of coldness and boredom flashes within those beautiful eyes, revealing a pair of aquamarine eyes to the world. Shem Siwang hadn't seen such fearless eyes in a long time. He was unconcerned about the situation because he was used to it. Suddenly, this young man turned to face him; from the young man's point of view, he only needs to look at the heavens, but from his point of view, this little one is directly staring at him.]
[A God like Shen Siwang was taken aback by this scene. Those pairs of irises with sky and sea colors stared at him. As if these eyes can see through everything, including the creator of this world himself.
This young man reminded me of Mo Baojun when he was younger. "Old man God, please stop watching and lend me your assistance," he said.
Shen Siwang only realized at that point that this young man, among all his creations, can sense his presence and pinpoint his exact location for some unknown reason. That was Shen Siwang's first visit to Vearth, as well as his first meeting with his wifey, Mo Baojun.]
Shen Siwang couldn't help but laugh at their first meeting's amusing scene. Mo Baojun is still quite young at the moment. He is extremely lazy, and his family could not bear the thought of making him. Even their dog would carry him during its walk to give him sunlight.
Shen Siwang asked, "I remember this. Little Bernard was surrounded by your kidnappers. He even hid you under him not letting those things take you away. Actually, I was still confused about how sure you are to know that I am around. All this time I've been thinking about how my fear wifey knew I was looking at you. Can you please tell me?"
"Your soul is too bright. In my mind, I saw two suns and your soul is the brightest and the warmest. It was glowing gold more so than the sun yet it wasn't burning hotness but warmth which makes me even sleepier and relaxing. I just feel that you are there and call out to you." Mo Baojun said.
Shen Siwang realized how annoying his soul is after hearing this. He couldn't even stay with others because he burns them unconditionally. His burning soul had no effect on his brother, Ye Xiajie, Mo Baojun, or the Mo Family. His soul is hotter and brighter than the sun as the God of Light, and he had always assumed he would be alone for eternity until he met Mo Baojun.
Hugging his wife and kissing him, Shen Siwang said, "Wifey! I always knew you were my Soulmate. I love you so much!"